Let the Games McGinn: Schires Or Fitzpatrick, But Not Both, Murph

As Harvard signal-caller Ryan Fitzpatrick slunk off the field, the Crimson faithful sat in stunned silence. The junior had just thrown his second interception since entering the game and Dartmouth had already begun to celebrate its stunning 30-16 upset victory on Harvard’s home turf.

The silence said it all. The perfect season, the Crimson’s realistic chances at sole possession of the Ivy title—none of it was supposed to end this way. Not with Fitzpatrick, Harvard’s own miracle worker, at the helm.

Fitzpatrick’s mistakes were the product of the high-pressure situation in which he had been placed. Why he was put in that spot to begin with is anyone’s guess.

After the game, Fitzpatrick said his hand was at 100 percent.

But he wasn’t ready.

At least Harvard coach Tim Murphy didn’t think so. If he had been, Fitzpatrick would have taken every snap from scrimmage.

But Fitzpatrick had practiced once in the last three weeks, and gotten his cast removed less than a week before.